CRISIS LEADERSHIP FOR EVENT PLANNING WORKSHOP
October 23, 2025 | Toronto, Ontario
OVERVIEW
Is your organization ready for the next crisis? If you are lucky, maybe crisis hasn't landed on your doorstep. Statistics show most companies will experience some form of crisis at least every 5 years. Covid taught us many lessons with the most important being we don't get to decide when crisis can bring our business operations to a grinding halt.
The good news is our response to crisis is entirely under our control. But where do we start? This interactive session consists of 3 modules that will arm leaders with a strong crisis management foundation to build resilience in their organisations. There will be an overarching theme highlighting the desired human behaviours that are required for success in execution. Winning is a team sport.
Module 1: Foundational Concept
Crisis management is a process. Participants will be exposed to the crisis lifecycle, terminology, crisis management team (CMT) composition, hierarchical response and initial CMT priorities. This will evolve into the actual roll up the sleeves processes that are required for successful crisis navigation.
Module 2: Case Studies
Case studies and real crisis scenarios from the speaker's past will be reviewed to highlight common pitfalls in crisis management execution. Additionally, the importance of the after-action process to drive continual learning will be discussed.
Module 3: Practical Exercise
Participants will be broken into groups and will collaboratively work through a guided crisis scenario. This immersive process leverages the learnings of the first two modules and culminates with a group discussion.
TRAINER BIOGRAPHIES
| Rob Currie Rob Currie has over 35 years working in public and private sector security, anchored by extensive international experience in federal policing operations, domestic counter-terrorism response, intelligence management & operations, crisis management, cyber investigations, and tactical command. Rob currently designs and delivers corporate security & crisis management programs across a variety of industries in the private sector. Rob is a retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer having served in a variety of roles (Incident Commander (ICS400), drug enforcement, technological crime, national security & tactical unit command). During his law enforcement career, he had the privilege of serving with the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) from 2006-2010, managing responses to domestic counter terrorism events as well as support for the war in Afghanistan. After policing, Rob leveraged his policing incident command and military experience in the following private sector roles: Manager of Physical Security at the Bank of Canada (2015), the Chief Security Officer at Scotiabank (2015-2018), and the VP Security at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts (2018-2019). Rob’s career choices provided him a wide array of “battle tested” crisis management experiences such as: barricaded persons with hostages, terrorist attacks (Ottawa 2014), high risk executive protection (Somalia), major cyber attack (Mafiaboy 2000), warzone digital forensics (Afghanistan), civil unrest, labour disputes, high risk asset transport and multiple hurricane responses. Rob is currently the Institute of Strategic Risk Management (ISRM) Canadian Chapter Chairman and named Fellow in 2024. Originally from Canada, Rob holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinanthropology from the University of Ottawa and has also completed numerous courses in Computer Science at the University of Concordia and Université de Laval. He is fluent in English and French with intermediate Spanish. Rob is an avid Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner and 2023 IBJJF middle-weight World Champion. |
| James Strickland, MSc, BSc, rmc James Strickland brings over 30 years of crisis leadership experience from the Canadian Special Operations Forces, law enforcement, and the corporate sector. He has planned and commanded complex, politically sensitive military and civilian operations both domestically and internationally. As Director General Public Safety and Security for the Ottawa International Airshow, he oversaw the comprehensive safety, security, and crisis response framework for one of Canada’s largest public events, integrating multi-agency coordination and contingency planning. In the corporate arena, James built and led Global Security and Crisis Operations for Canopy Growth Corporation, developing and implementing crisis management mechanisms across five continents. His expertise includes risk assessment, contingency planning, security operations, and leading through disruption. Today, he coaches and mentors leaders in crisis readiness, helping organizations anticipate, prepare, and respond effectively to critical incidents, with a focus on high-profile, high-stakes decision scenarios. |
ABOUT RCAS
RCAS can help you turn the chaos of a crisis into an event that can and will be managed appropriately without panic. The world may be unpredictable, but you can control how you prepare and respond. Your organisation needs leaders that are ready to adapt, respond, and take charge when the moment calls for it. We have the tools and experience to help prepare them. Your organisation’s agility and strength are our priorities. Crisis management has a ripple effect, creating a stronger foundation both in and out of crisis mode.